A few hours after he set open tryouts for a placekicker at Arizona State, head coach Kenny Dillingham apologized for his post-game comments.
He took to social media to issue the apology.
During his post-game press conference after the Sun Devils lost to Cincinnati, 24-14, Dillingham wasn’t happy with the kicking game, among other things in the loss.
ASU sophomore kicker Ian Hershey missed two field goals from 48 and 41 yards out in the contest. Both kicks would have cut Cincinnati’s lead to seven points and came in the final four minutes of the game.
Hershey has missed his last three field-goal attempts, which goes back three games.
After the game, as reported by Sun Devil Source and other outlets, Dillingham said he would hold tryouts for kicker on Monday.
“Our kicking game is atrocious,” he said. “If you can kick and you’re at Arizona State, email me. We’re going to have kicking tryouts on Monday … I’m dead serious.”
Well, to make that sort of offer and criticism meant calling out Hershey. While coaches certainly do that behind closed doors after a loss, most temper that criticism when talking to the media.
That’s what Dillingham apologized for in his post.
I would like to apologize in my post game press conference I talked about our kicking game like I do offense / defense. However the kicking game is always directed at one player. I should not have done that and I apologize. This team’s losses will always 100% fall on myself. #SunDevil4LIFE
What the post didn’t address was whether Dillingham had canceled open tryouts for kicker or not. He’ll have two weeks to think about it as the Sun Devils have a bye week before they travel to Oklahoma State on Nov. 2.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
